Age old photography wisdom. Get closer.

You can get closer with your feet or with a zoom lens. The results can be dramatically different without changing any settings.  This photo of my husband, Shea, gives him some context and could be part of the story I want to tell.

“Taking a break during a 5 year old field trip in the only patch of shade available.”

70mm | ISO 125 | f/4.0 | ss 1/500

But really. The photo is a bit ho hum. My eye is drawn to the big dirt patch behind his head, the distracting pole running up the side of the frame and the bit unflattering posture (and ummm, crotch shot).

Zooming to 200mm, I fill the frame with his face. I still have the context of the fence, now blurred in the background a bit decreasing the distraction some. The backpack straps and the dappled sun on his face and shirt tell the story of the field trip. Now there is little question about what the viewer is supposed to see.

200mm | ISO 125 | f/4.0 | 1/400

I crop it a little bit more in Lightroom for added visual appeal. Placing his eye near a third line, gives your eye a natural spot to fall as you look at the photo.

Cropped in Lightroom

There are a couple other things that occur by stepping in closer. A little play with optics that occurs. Notice that both photos were taken at the same aperture. With the longer focal length, even at an aperture of 4.0, the background is blurred. A small little technique to change the way your photos look.

Notice anything about the shutter speed?

Yep, a little slower shutter speed in the second photo. A longer focal length require a bit more light.

I’ve also gotten better exposure on his face in the second image by filling the frame with more of his face and fewer competing colors.

It’s all those small things coming together that make a photo. So step closer and enjoy all of the benefits!